PORTSMOUTH are set to go into administration for the second time in two years leaving the club facing a 10-point penalty.

Pompey have confirmed they have applied to go into administration and the automatic 10-point penalty would see them drop to 21st position and into the relegation fight at the bottom of the Championship.

The club face a winding-up hearing next week over an unpaid tax bill and have not been able to pay their players and staff for January.

A club statement said: "Portsmouth Football Club have made an application to the High Court to go into administration.

"The club will not enter administration until the court endorses the application and appoints an administrator."

The High Court administration hearing is due to take place on Friday.

Peter Kubik, of the club's financial advisors UHY Hacker Young, said Portsmouth's bank accounts had been frozen after the winding-up application by HM Revenue and Customs.

He told Press Association Sport: "The club are in the process of seeking an administration order.

"The club's bank accounts have been frozen due to the winding-up hearing and they are finding it very difficult to trade. Once the administration order is in place the bank accounts will be made accessible again.

"We are aware that administration carries an automatic 10-point deduction by the Football League."

Pompey were plunged into another financial crisis after their parent company, Convers Sports Initiatives (CSI), went into administration in November. UHY Hacker Young are the administrators for CSI.

The tax bill is for between £900,000 and £1.2million but Kubik said there were many other outstanding bills to pay. Among these, the club needs to pay their electricity supplier in order to avoid being cut off.

"There are lots of bills they need to pay," added Kubik.

In February 2010 Portsmouth became the first Premier League club to enter administration and were deducted nine points, condemning them to relegation.

Kubik said there was some interest from potential buyers who might take over the club but they would want to wait until the Portsmouth was in administration.